New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-25
FICTION.
psvcpOIOGY AND ROMANCE.
TIE NEW ANTIaONE. Romance. 12mo, PIP. 3
$780, Macmillan IL Co.

Spe $50 Gasseil & Co.
THE FROZEN PIRATE ,o BY " p. CtsRK RUSSELL
Tho ANONYMOUS author of " The New Antigone
has not perhaps tab en- the public altogether into
his or her confidence. The title is almost as liable
to mlslead as to guide the reader Alright. The
Greek Antigone of the legend is open TO many in
terrretat ons. 1t may be regarded as illustrative
of loves devotion aud Pronunciation. 1t may also
be regarded howng the fatal influence of super
sttion and ceremonialism. Tho old Ar tigone
brought about the death both of herself and her
lover by obstinate insistance uron what, from at
least one point of Wow. might he considered an
empty form. II, however, it is to be concluded
that this is the view meant to be taken by the new
Antigonc, the ethical purpose of the author be-
comes questionable 1t seems necessary to make
this point. however, inasmuch as the Leading
motive of the ttorv IS PECULIAR. Several OF the
modern vexed questions are raised III the oook'
Anarchy, both Athenan and Spartan, is dealt WIN
Wild revolntiOnists 60 conspirng through is
pages. There is young philosopher ana phlIan-
thropst who IS also an active member OF all SORTS
of secret societies. Tho heroine IS the daughter 81
n well-born nan who has taken naturally to con-
spiracy and who is credited with the direction oil
the plot which eliminated in the assassination of
TIE Gar. Naturally the girl has had peculiar
education. she is. IN fact trained in tho doctrine
of Tree Owe: and the handling of such woman in
fiction is obviously not less delicate than difficult
The author has proceeded with sufficient courage
and considerable subtlety. Suppose girl OF re-
fined instincts and native purity, brought up 10
believe that marriage is an ecclesiastical snperst-
ton, and having no worldly experience to correct
her bold theory, how might she be expected TO act'
The now AntigOno has the courage OF her convlc-
tons She refuses 10 be married to her lover, and
gives him the alternative of dispensing with the
rivip her 70 rpdcmp
tiop-if the author really intends to he so under
stopd-is effected by the Sudden influence OF
Catholic priests sermon. From the extreme OF
atheistic license she sweeps then to conventua
retirement. The swing is 80 wide, the reaction so
extreme, as to throw into question the authors
ultimate intont
A study of tho awful depths OF depravity reached
by the poor of London in the Sums of that city had
previously caused her to doubt whether tho
freedom of love could safely be trusted but she
had racifed her mind by declaring that love was in
no way concerned here. Tho suddenness OF her
awakening and the instant fxity and strength OF
her conviction are indeed surprising, and though
certainly not without precedent yet hardly IN
keeping with strkingly unconventional char
acter. OF course great psychological proOiem u
involved but if education really educates 1T must
be thought singular that the whole life teaching o.
Hi2polyta Vxencc could be reversed by single
discourse uttered by representative OF religion
she had been taught to despise. Apart from the
straining of probability, the story is marked by
great power and an excellent style There is per
haps rather too strong a tendency in the author
tow ard classical quotations and Latin chapter
headings, and some OF the illusions are altogether
above the heads of the average public. The book,
however, is full of Questionings which go to the
heart of modern science, ethics and government
The Duke of Aduam. the wicked. handsome, mag
netic prince who cutivates anarchiSm in a
Sybaritist manner is no doubt portrait from life
The study of the Spartan Anarchists is crude. being
probably drawn entirely from the imagination 1t
is not credible that the story Is the work of new
and unknown writer The style is mature, the
thought cultured, there is 40 epIgrammatic flavor
in much of the description which indicates the man
of the world. The authors claim Of anonymity
may be easily understood, and perhaps IL would
be unnecessary 90 further for explanation OF 1t
than TO the Greek legend whence the title is taken
The new volume of Inspector Byrnes's expert
ences as expanded and ideallzeG by Julian Haw-
thorne deals with the complicated subject of
European countcrfeitng. and the strange advent
ures of n Russian Count tnrned private detective,
while in pursuit of the willy criminals. Considering
that they found him out completely at an early
stage of the proceedings, 1t is rather surprising
that he should triumph them at last, and this
conclusion renders IL all tne more questlOuaolS
whether any Just idea of the methods of criminal
catching arc to be had from these combinations lin
unknown proportions Of fact and fiction Judging
from such actual occurrences most people have
encountered. il is extremely improbable that an
amateur detective of quite exceptional ercenness
should have got the better of the keenest and most
desperate gang OF forgers in Europe. If such
story we told as mere romance one would reject
It as unnatural Must then accept it because in
the present it is aegsl to he founded on factl
There can be answer to that question unless the
real diary of Inspector Byrnes should become
accessible, but 1T my be doubted whether many
detectives of experience would be willing 10 III
dorse the commences of this story as Mr.. Julian
Hawthorne has told it. The true artist, whether
lie be Couuein, an Irving or a Byrnes must owe
most 20 aborious learning and least to inspiration.
The amateur detective who relies on the latter 10
mako up for want of experience may generally 10
counted on to come to grief, and the young Russian
la this tale seems to have been particularly soft
and SO utterly lacking in prudence and warincss
that the interest of his adventures is good deal
intererod with by the strain of trying to believe in
the possibility of his success
Even Mr. Clark Russell, who has hitherto steered
clear of the supernatural and mira is at last
drawn into the mystic current which Is manifest
Ing itself so strongly in the fiction OF tho period
In his last novel hc has recourse to methods which
recall at once NJ. Edmund About and Mr.. Rider
Haggard. No doubt sailor author might have
evolved the central ideas for himself and 1T is
quite possible that his imitation is unconscious,
bat one cannot hep suspecting that he owes some
thing to the Frcnchmaa's clever starry Of The Man
With the Broken Ear" and also 10 the wondrons
tale of She" The ilea of finding frozen pirate
In an old vessel which urned out to have been fast
a., ica island for6 fty years. and of thaWiDg
and so resuscitatng this pirate, is certainly en-
titled to be considered entirely new application
of Abouts conception. The man with broken
ear had beea subjected to q process which with
drew all tho water from his body, and he was
hroucht To Life by having his lost ni Is restored To